Compound engine.



PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

I. H. BUYER. COMPOUND ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JANA), 1906 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

illll will AR :1 macs:

MMKW PATENTED DEGQ4, 1906.

I. H. BUYER. COMPOUND ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED June, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 837,785. PATENTBD DEC. 4, 1906. I. H. BOYER. COMPOUND ENGINE.

APPLICATION: FILED JAN.9, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W JV K 71 p 40W%m 4, 3 I Snowy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

No. 837,785. I

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Petented'Dec. 4, 1906.

. Applioatii m filed January 9,1906. Serial No. 296.214.,

v To all whom it may concern:'

. cie,- inthe county of- Delaware .and State of lie Be. it knownth'ajt I, ISAAC H. BoYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mun- Indiena, have invented new and useful Improvements inoompound Engmes; and I- do declere'the" following to be a full, clear, and exact ,description'of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

and to. the letters end figures of reference merkedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

. This invention-relates to steam-engines, whether locomotive or stationery, of the coin ouiid type that may be operated at will partially with high-pressure steam in the lowpressure cylinder at the beginning of each stroke of the pistons, the invention hsiviiig reference particularly to the steeinevelve that controls the fiowof steam into and out of the engine cylin'ders to the valve-chzunber and the steam-ports and to means for-Opera's ing the valve.

Objects of the invention areto improve the constructionof compound engines, particularly the main valves and appurtenances thereof, to the end that such engines niav be simplified iii-{detail and be rendered durlible and economical in use; to rovide a valve can pableof controllingthe ow of steenr-into' and out of a high-pressure and e; low-pressure cylinder working as econipou-nd engine, and

to also control the admission of high-pressure' I 13 and 14, except'that the valve 18 omitted;

steam to the low-pressurecylinder for-ra 1 ing the engine before compounding occurs,

' another ob; ect being to provide simple nei nsfor operating the valve, so 'as to attain the aboveqnentioned results. T

Thehereinbefore nientioned objects are at-' tained in the resent invention which con sists in providing a compound engine with a, g single valve for apair of cylinders capable of j controlling all ess'ages of steam into and out -.-ofv both cylin ei's, a v'alve-ch tinber having ports coiinec with l-the j cylinders, thevalve-chamber having opposing valve-seats with a novel a-rrangementofports therein,

and mechanism .for operatii'ig the valve for" 1' compound operation cepableof abnormally increasing" the trIivel-of the vslveto admit high-pressure steam to the low-pressure cylinder at plea-sure and the invention consists,

nsitions'and' errargenients of parts as hereinafter perticulerlydescribed, and referred to in,

the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 .is a. side elevation of n stationery engine having the improvements embodied therein; Fig. 2, a top plan thereof; Fig. 3, a transverse sectionel. view on the line A A in Fig. 1 Fig. 4, a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line B B in Fig. 1 Fig. 5, 9. side elevation of the main parts of the engine, a portion being in section, showing the v:.lve-ge r1 set for normal or coin mind-operation; Fig. 6, a view similar to't lat in the preceding figure-with the difference that the vilve-gei-r is shifted for initial high-pressure admission as well as for compound operation; Fig. 7, a, fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line C C in Fig; 6;Fig. 8, a. top plan of the improved main or st'es-uin valve; Fig. 9, a "erl'icitl sectionnl view of the valve on the line D D in and-Fig. 16 a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as on the line H inFig. 15, showing plan ofthevelve-seat for the low-pres sure cylinder.

Similar reference characters in the different figuresof the drawings designate corresponding elementsor features. Y For the purposes of conveniently disclosing the invention a stationary ty e of. engine is illustrated 'andtlie valve-chem er is arranged compactly between two cylinders; butit is to be understood that the invention is applica ble to locomotives or to portable engines and arranged in various ositions convenient to the cylinders In the drawings, a" designates a suitable foundation; 1), an engine-frame having a base c'mounted on. the foundation; I, a high-presice that the valve-chamber and valve may be a I and J and extending sure cylinder, and J a relatively larger lowpressure cylinder, both cylinders mounted on the engine-frame; d, the high-pressure piston and d. the piston-rod thereof;e,'the low-- thereof; is, thesteam-pipe with a throttle.- valve 1 for admitting steam to the valvechainber', m, theeXhaust-pipe connecting with an exhaust-passage at. All of these features may be variously constructed, as

- may be desired, excepting the valve-chamber.

- which may be otherwise arranged relatively tion the-valve-chainber is able'walls and is preferably somewhat longer valve-chamber the valve seat the other one to the to the cylinders, scribed. I y

In a-prac-tical embodiment of the invenformed with suitand will be further de than the cylinders I and'J, the ends of the being provided with removable heads 1) and q, the latter having a packing-box 1'. In the valve-chamber are two plane-faced valve-seats L and M, parallel one 'to the other.- The valve-seat L is associated with the high-pressure cylinder 1, and twov steamports N and N extend from the face of the valve-seat to the cylinder 1, one at either end thereof. Also-two exhaust-ports O and O extend from the middle portion of the face of the valve-seat L to the cylinder 1, one port to either end of the cylinder and preferably by {connecting with the steam-ports X and X, 'as indicated in Figs. 12 to 15. In the face of L are recesses 5 into which valve-oil may be introduced.

The valve-seat M is associated with the low pressure cylinder J, and two relatively narrow auxiliary or high-pressure steamports P and Pextend from theface of the valve-seat to the cylinder J, one at either end thereof, two low-pressure steam-ports Q and Q. extending from the face of themiddle portion of the valve-seat, one to port P. Also an exhaustort'R extends from the middle portion 0 the valve-seat M between the ports Q and Q to the port n for the escape of the exhaust-steam from the low-pressure cylinder.- Recesses t are formed in the valve-seat M to receive lubricating-oil. and P are closer one to the other than are the ports N and N and nearly opposite to them.

' The main valve S that operates in connec tion with the valve-seats L and M is of the slidingtype, and it has two plane faces 17 and 18 parallel .one to the other, the face 17 seating againstthe valve-seat L and the face 18 the crank-pin j over-ports U and U parts of the 1, so that when the valve moves the port T beyond the sides.

' c, and arocker-arir the port P and" The ports P seating against the valve-seat'l\l. The longitudinal dimension of the valve is such as to enable the valve to cover not only the ports 'P and P", but also the ports N-and N at one time and have a suitable amount of lap, and the high-pressure steam may be admitted to the ports past the ends of the valve when the latter is in operation. A crossover-port T fxtends from the middle of the face 17 of the' alve into the body thereof, and. twocrossextend from different face 18 of the valve to the port may permit the exhaust-steam (or low-pressure steam) from cylinder I-to cross over either from the port 0 or the port 0 to the lon' -pressure cylinder J, through either the ports U andQ or the ports'U and Q. In the middle of 'the face 18. 's an eXhaust-cavity'V to permit the 'eXhauSt-stea1n to pass from the cvlinder J either through the port Q, or the port Q to the port R.

The main valve may be variously constructed so that both working faces thereof may operate close to their valve-seats, a simple form of two-part adjustable valve be ing herein illustrated, (see particularly Figs. 9, 10, and 11,) in which a main part and a companion part W are-each of wedge form suitably held together, the joint '11, of the two parts being inclined to the working faces of the valve.

the two parts and afford means for adjusting the parts so as to expand the valve, a stopscrew as being used sion to an undesirable degree. Oil-cavities 19 and 20 are formed in the part W and similar cavities are formed in the part lV, opening in the faces of the valve. A valve-stem y is attached to the part W of the valve and extends through the packing-box r.

In order to operate the valve S, various mechanisms may be provided, asimple form being herein shownas serving to illustrate the invention, in which an eccentric X, at-

tached to the shaft 'i, is employed as a motive agent. A rock-shaft 23 is mounted in the engine-frame 1), preferably near the base i 24 is secured fixedly to the rock-shaft and pivoted to the valve-stem A rocker-arm Y is secured fixedly also to the roclf-slnrft and has a slot- 25 therein whereby the eccentric-rod Z is connected movably to the rhckenarms by means of a link-die 26, the eccentric-rod being .controlled and shifted laterally by a bell-crank having arms 27v and 2S and mounted on a pivot 29, that is supported by the frame I),

there being a link 30 pivoted to the arm 27 and also to the rod Z. A head-block 31 is suitablv supported and has'a screw-rod mounted therein that extends through a suitably-supported bearing 33 to the arm 28, to which the screw-rod is suitably conto resist accidental expan- A lug-bolt c and nut w connect 1 LOO 1'5 as to shift the rod Z to the opposite end of nected, 'as by a sleeve 34, having pivots 35 1' has already admitted high-pressure steam 65 extending through slots in the 'arm128, the; screw-rod having collars at opposite sides of the' -sleeve,fso that when the screw-rod rotates it willmove longitudinally and move the arm 28, and therefore shift the rod Z where it connects in the slot either toward .or away from the shaft23, thus enabling the eccentric to move the valve-stein with more or less amount of travel, the travel of the valve, theref0re,bein'g greatest'whenthe link-die 26 is nearer .the rock-shaft 23 and normalwhen the link-die is farthest removedfrom'the rock-shaft. The mechanism of course'may be modified so that the' valve may be made'to cutoff steam at vari 'ous points of the piston-strokes, and various other modifications may fairly be made with-' in the scope and intent of the invention.

" In practical use steam should be admitted to the valve-chamber K from a, suitable steam-plant.

eration being understood, it may be assumed and stopped, as in Fig. 1, with the valve S in the position shown in Fig. 14, the eccentric the crosscver ports L and T andthe portO into the cylinder I to the opposite side of the piston d. The steam'acting on the relasteam applied to the piston (1 through the- .49"

'tively large pistonofthe low-pressuie oylinder J will start the engine, together with the port N, the steam at the opposite side of the I piston (1 being of large volume and readily compressible momentanlyland serving as a too suddenly upon the larger piston.

a slight movement of the engine thevalvebalance to prevent the live steam from acting will'promptly close the auxiliary port P and still leavethe port X open and also leave the crossover-ports open, as in Fig. 13, and the movement of the valve may be accelerated, if desired, byioperating the screw-rod 32 so the slot 25, as in Fig. 5, and compounding will then'begin, the steam exhausting from the cylinder I'through the port 0 into the port P, the valve advancing and closing the port N at the predetermined point cut-off of the steam.

exhaust-steam .to pass from the cylinder 1 into the cylinder J to move the piston e towardthe-opposite end of the cyhnder than lthat in which the piston is shown, and in this {figure it may be assumed that the-valve.

I p The relative arrangement' ofthegplstons, the crank-pin, the eccentric, and

z'tl'ie'xvalve and the movements thereof in opas. that the crank-pin has passed a dead-center After VViththe pistons in the pcsi into the auxiliary port P or is about to open this port. 'lVhen the rocker-arm Y is opergine thus working as compound, and when the rod Z is shifted so as to operate the rockera'rm Y, as in Fig. 6, the valve will have in: creased length of travel and will therefore open the auxiliary ports P and P, so that a.

small quantity of high -pressure steam will be admitted to the piston-'6 at either beginningpoint of its stroke. Other movements of the mechanism and results will be understood from the foregoing description.

-Having thus described the, invention, what is claimed as new is 11' An engine including a plurality of steamcylinders having admission-ports and also combined, admission and outlet ports com- 'municating with the 'ends thereof, coupled pistons in the cylinders, and a movable valve covering all of the admission-ports in midposition and having a crossover-port for the passage of actuating fluid to the front, of an advancingpiston while admitting fluid to the rear of both advancing pistons.

12. An-engine-including a pluralityof steamcylinders provided with a'movable valve having variable extent of travel,- there being initial admission-ports and outlet-ports extending from the Valve to thecylinders and covered by the valve in mid-position, means for operating the valve normally to open and. close the admission-ports to, one of the cylinders only, and means for operating the valvewith augmented extent of travel of the valve to open the initial admission-ports to, another one of the cylinders, there being ports between the plurality of cylinders opened and closed by the valve'with either normal or augmented travel.

3..An engine including a plurality of steamcylinders with pistons mova ble. therein, a valve-chamber having two opposing valveseats therein, one of the valve-seats having two'inlet-ports and two outlet-portsextend ing therefrom toone of the cylinders, and the other one of the valve-seats having two combined inlet and outlet ports and also two auxiliaryinlet-ports extending therefrom to another one of the cylinders, and having also an exhaust-port extending from the valve-seat exteriorly to the cylinders and the valve chamber, and a valve in the valve-chambermovable against the two. valve-seats provided with crossover-ports and controlli ng the flow of steam through all of the ports to and from the piston.

4. An engine including aplurality'of steamistons movable therein, a

cylinders with valve-chamber avmg two opposing valve: seats therein, one of the valveseats' having to eitlier one of two exhaust-ports extending irom the middlep'orti'on thereof to opposite ends of one of the cylinders and having also two inletports extending from the end portions of the valveseat to the ends of the cylinder, and the 0 th er one of the valve-seats having two combined inlet and exha it orts" extending from the middle portion tlz rent" to opposite ends of another one of the cylinders, and a valve in the valve chaniber movable against the two valve-seats and having a single crossoverport inone side thereof for receiving exhaust-stea-m from either one of the exhaust ports of one of the cylinders and having also two crossover-ports in the opposite side.

thereof communicating with the single cross over-port for conveying the exhaust-steam haust ports of the other one of the cylinders, the valve controlling the adinissiomof steam to the'two inlet-ports.

5. An engine including-a plurality of steamcyli-nders with pistons movable therein, a valve-chamber between the cylinders having two opposing valve-seats therein, one of the valve-seats having two 'inletports and also two exhaust-ports extending therefrom to one of the cylinders, and the other one of the the combined mid-position extending over all oi the ports.

valve-seats having two combined inlet and exhaust ports 'and two auxiliary inlet-ports extending therefrom to another one of the cylinders, and having also an exhaust-port between the two combined inlet and exhaust ports, and a valve in the valve-chamber movable against the two valve-seats provided with crossover-ports extending therethrough for conducting exhaust-steam from the exhaust-ports of one cylinder to thecombined inlet and exhaust'ports of another cylinder, and provided also with an exhaust-cavity for conducting exhaust-steam from either one of inlet and exhaust ports to the exhaust-port. the valve normally controlling the admission of steam to the inlet-ports of one cylinder and provided with means ior abnormally augmenting the travel thereof'to admit steam from the valve-chamber into eitherone of the auxiliary inlet-ports of the other cylinder. r

6. An engine including a high-pressure steam-cylinder, a relatively larger lowpressure steam-cylinder, a valve-cha1nber having therein a valve-seat for the highpressure steam-cylinder seat for the low-pressure steam-cylinder, with inlet and outlet ports extending from the valve-seats to the cylinders. one ol' the valve-seats having two auxiliary inlet-ports extending therefrom to the lmvpressure cylinder a valve in the valve-chamber movable against bothof the valve-seats and in of the two valve-seats. means for normally operating the valve'so as to constantly close the combined inlet and ex-i and also a valvevalve-seat .the auxiliary inlet-ports and open or close:

the other ports for admitting high-pressure steam to the high-pressure steaneoylinder and conducting therefrom the exhanststeam to the low-pressure steam-cylinder, the valve having 'crossoverports therethrongh for conveying the exhaust-steam and so having an exhaust-cavity to; rele tag the exhaust-steam from. thelow-pressn" steam cylinder, and means for varying the travel or the valve to open or close the auxiliary inlet-ports.

7. An engine including aplnralit g otsteam 3 cylinders, a valve-chamber having; two opposing plane-face valve-seats therein and ports the steam-cylinders, two of the ports being inlet-ports each extending from an end portien of one valve-seat to the corresponding end of one of the cylinders,- and two of the i ports being auxiliary inlet-ports each extend ing from an end portion of the opposing valve-seat to the corresponding end of another steam-cylinder and spared apart farther than the two inlet-ports, ti -ere being also crossover and exhaust ports, a valve in the valve-chaniber movable againstthe two valve-seats and having anlexhaust-citvi ty and also crossover-ports therein, mean for nor mally operating the valve for o ring or dosing the crossover and the exh st ports and also the inlet-ports and tneventing the opening of the auxiliary inlet-parts, and means for increasing the extent of the travel of the valvetor opening or closing the auxiliary inlet-ports.

8. An engine including apair of cylinders of difl'erent diameters, a valve-chamber having two opposing valve-seats therein provided with oil-recesses in the faces thereof, withports extending from the valve-seats to the cylinders, and a valve in the valvecha'mberhaving two plane faces parallel one to the other, one face movable aga the valve-seats and the other face against the other one oi the valves-eaten the valve having oil-cavities therein and provided with crossover-ports extending therethrough for conducting steam front the smaller to the larger of the pairot cylinders through the ports that. extend from the valveseats to the cylinders.

9. -An engine including a pair of cylinders of ditl'etent diameters provided with a valvechamber interposedbetween the two cylinders and having two opposing plane-face valve-seats therein. one "for each cylii'ider. one valve-seat having two ports extending from the middle 'pin-tion thereof to opposite ends of the smaller cylinder. and the other having two ports extending from the middle portion thereof to the larger cylinder, each valve-seat having also two ports extending. from the valve-seats to at one of nmvahle the respective oylmuers, and e two-faoed vcylinders, the valve controllmg the flow of 10 valve in the valve-ohamber'movable against steam through the ports that extend from the two Valve-seats and having 'a' single the end portionsof the Valve-seats. crossover-port extending from one of the .111 testimony whereof I a-fl'lx my-signature faces thereof inwardly andtwo other cross in presence of-two Witnesses. over-portsextending from the other face ISAAC BOYER. thereof to the single or0ssover-p0rt pro- \Vitnesses: viding direct. passages for steam from the M. 0. THOMPSON,

smaller one to the larger one of the pair of E. T. SILVIUS. 

